R&I in Support of the Clean Industrial Deal: Decarbonisation of energy intensive industries (IA) (Processes4Planet and Clean Steel partnerships)

As per the topics’ scope, proposals are expected to demonstrate an adequate integration of relevant technologies in support of the Clean Industrial Deal (either via direct or indirect integration). Hence, it is envisaged that proposals (under each of the topics under this call) have the possibility simultaneously encompass/address several technologies and/or solutions described under each of the 3 areas listed.

However, applicants (under each topic) are expected to decide and select one main area out of the 3 that are listed – based on a sound assessment/reasoning on which of the areas the aims, activities, and technological solutions covered by their proposal is most aligned with. The main area selected should explicitly be stated in the proposal.

The industry sectors covered by the topics implementing Processes4Planet partnership are those sectors:

• included in the partnership itself, i.e. Cement, Ceramics, Chemicals, Engineering, Non-ferrous metals, minerals, pulp&paper, refining, steel or water;
• and/or covered by the EU Emission Trading System Directive (Annex I), i.e. oil refineries, steel works, and production of iron, aluminium, metals, cement, lime, glass, ceramics, pulp, paper, cardboard, acids and bulk organic chemicals.

Consortia must put together a consortium composition that aims at a clear and quantifiable positive impact on competitiveness and allows for effective collaboration between the relevant stakeholders within the selected clean tech sector. Industrial engagement and leadership are needed for the deployment of the technologies in the market.

The instructions related to the Business Plan and the Market-Readiness Strategy are detailed in the introduction to the Destination “Horizontal Call – R&I in Support of the Clean Industrial Deal.” These two elements are expected for all proposals under this call. The two elements are to be part of the proposals’ dissemination and exploitations activities (and hence the corresponding work package) and should be further developed during the implementation period through a yearly deliverable and a final report.

In order to include a business case and market-readiness strategy, as outlined in the introduction to the Destination, the page limit in part B of the General Annexes is exceptionally extended to a maximum of 60 pages.

It is expected that applicants ensure that the needed expertise can be mobilised within the consortium (notably via industrial members, who typically should have sufficient business/market-based knowledge for these elements and are expected to take a leading role in the projects consortia).

As described in the introduction to the Destination “Horizontal Call – R&I in Support of the Clean Industrial Deal”, the business plan and market-readiness strategy will be part of the dissemination and exploitation activities of projects under this call and will be further developed and updated during the implementation period through a yearly deliverable and a final report in order to ensure fit for deployment at the end of the project. Hence, the two elements are not expected to be fully comprehensive and completed at the stage of the application – what will be assessed in the application is the degree to which the framing/outline of the plan to develop and complete the elements (as part of the projects’ activities) is sound and convincing.

Proposals are expected to demonstrate the sound and reasonable linking/incorporation of technological solutions/technologies into a coherent system, operation, and/or system (rather than in isolated elements) in a direct or indirect manner (e.g. to either reduce greenhouse gas emissions or produce novel clean products). Such integration would likely follow energy and industrial technological value chains (i.e. from generation via distribution to use).

The proposal should include the go/no-go moment as a project milestone. This milestone should state the appropriate means of verification, which should be added as deliverables. They should include as a minimum the detailed engineering plans, a techno-economic assessment, all needed permits for the demonstrator and the complete business plan and market-readiness strategy. If the go/no go decision is delayed or negative, suspension or termination of the action will be considered.

If the proposal can demonstrate that the target cannot be achieved, then a credible and less ambitious KPI is acceptable, as long as the proposal complies with topic requirements.

The topics are not restricted to renewable energy solutions. Where the descriptions mention “renewable energy storage solutions” or “renewable electricity,” these are examples of broader categories: “clean energy usage in production” and “zero-emission power technologies,” respectively. All clean, low-carbon, or net-zero energy technologies are eligible, as are integrated net-zero emissions energy systems that incorporate them.

All sectors covered by the EU ETS fall within the scope of this topic. Proposals must clearly demonstrate how they are contributing to all expected outcomes.

In the context of this call and topic, “demonstration” activities are considered to be R&I activities that are covered by Innovation Actions (TRL 6-8; as per the Horizon Europe Regulation, 'innovation action' means an action primarily consisting of activities directly aiming to produce plans and arrangements or designs for new, altered or improved products, processes or services, possibly including prototyping, testing, demonstrating, piloting, large-scale product validation and market replication). In contrast, “deployment” in the context of the call refers to application in the market that reaches beyond such first applications.

Given that this topic will fund Innovation Actions, activities can go beyond demonstration up to market replication (i.e. support the first application in the market of an innovation that has already been demonstrated but not yet applied due to market failures/barriers to uptake). Innovation Actions do not cover deployment in the market of multiple applications of an innovation (a new or improved technology, product, design, process, service or solution) that has already been applied successfully once in the market.

It means that whilst there is a frame for the technological areas that are in scope, applicants are free to decide on the specific technological value chain they wish to strengthen within an industrial sector. The choice of the specific technologies addressed in the proposal is left to the project applicants who should include a thorough justification of the choices both in technological and business terms. This freedom for industry to decide the technological and business areas addressed allows for integration of clean technologies with Industrial decarbonisation.